Health News Results - 52

TUESDAY, May 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Expectant mothers and doctors have focused a lot on how much a woman gains during pregnancy, but new research suggests how much a woman weighs before getting pregnant may be far more important.

The study found that the more a woman weighed at the start of her pregnancy, the more likely she was to experience complications such as high bl...

WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Even though marijuana triggers the "munchies" in many people, adults who use the drug tend to weigh less than nonusers, a new study finds.

The finding stems from data on the weight of 33,000 Americans, 18 and older. Researchers found that all gained weight over three years. However, those who used pot bulked up less than those who did not....

THURSDAY, April 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- As obesity becomes epidemic among Americans, many could over- or underestimate their odds for piling on the pounds. But a new genetic "score" might take the guesswork out of all of that, researchers say.

Using information on more than 2 million gene variants linked to body weight, the scientists created a so-called polygenic score that ma...

SUNDAY, March 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Need another reason to stay slim? People who are overweight have a greater risk of dying from pancreatic cancer, especially those who are carrying extra pounds before age 50, a new study suggests.

"No matter what the age, there was some increase in pancreatic cancer deaths associated with excess weight. But the as...

SATURDAY, March 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Maybe you rush around with work and activities during the day, then settle in for a large, relaxing meal in the evening. But new research says the later in the day you eat, the more weight you're likely to pack on.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Slow and sneaky weight gain usually happens over time -- on average one pound a year -- so it's not always obvious at first, especially if you don't regularly weigh yourself.

But if this weight creep goes unnoticed year after year, by middle age, your middle may lose the sleek look you had when you were younger.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight and obesity accounted for nearly 4 percent of all cancers globally in 2012, and that rate is likely to rise in coming decades, a new study suggests.

Rates of excess body weight have been increasing worldwide since the 1970s. By 2016, about 40 percent of adults (2 billion) and 18 percent of children aged 5 to 19 (340 million) had ...

Many studies have linked poor sleep -- whether from insomnia or working the night shift -- to weight gain and health conditions like type 2 diabetes. But that type of research leaves open the question of whether sleep loss itse...

MONDAY, June 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- The dilemma is all too familiar: It's Monday morning, you walk into your office and see that someone has left a big box of donuts in the break room. Then, your co-worker tells you there will be cake later for yet another birthday celebration.

One thing's for sure. You're not alone. A new federal government survey found that about one-quarter o...

TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- If current trends continue, nearly one-quarter of the world's population will be obese by 2045. And one in eight people will have type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.

Alongside those bulging waistlines, global rates of type 2 diabetes will jump from 9 percent to 12 percent over the next 27 years, placing an even...

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- It's no secret that weight gain results from consuming too many calories. But at its core is an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy habits.

On one side of the scale -- the healthy side -- are foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein and plant-based fats. On the other side are the not-so-healthy options -- sugary foods...

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- It's a myth that people with heart disease who are overweight or obese live longer than those who are normal weight, researchers report.

Rather than living longer than normal-weight people, those who are obese are just diagnosed at a younger age, the study found. They spend more of their lives with heart disease, but actually live shorter l...

While obesity raises heart attack risk in both sexes, women with bigger waists and waist-to-hip ratios have greater odds for a heart attack than men who have a similar apple-shaped body, a large Briti...

TUESDAY, Feb. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- After losing weight, many dieters soon regain much of what they took off. Now, research hints that chemicals lurking in clothing and furniture may play a role in this frustrating yo-yo cycle.

Widely used manmade chemicals called perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may undermine dieters' attempts to maintain weight loss by slowing down the body's...

"Exercise and eating smaller portions have to be part of your lifestyle change in order to be successful" after weight-loss surgery, said Dr. Ann Rogers, director of Surgical Weight Loss at Penn State Medical Center, in Hershey, Pa.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For many Americans, Thanksgiving kicks off a season of high-calorie eating. The trick this time of year is to enjoy the goodies without packing on extra pounds.

It's important to eat in moderation rather than denying yourself any goodies, said food expert Shreela Sharma.

Researchers analyzed data on nearly 22,000 middle-aged and older women. The goal: to assess the relationship between obesity and traumatic events -- such as the death of a child or being a victim of a serious physical...

MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Getting kids to drink water with their school lunches could help keep their weight in check and save the United States billions in obesity-related costs, a new study contends.

Researchers calculated the effects of going nationwide with a program piloted in 1,200 New York City schools between 2009 and 2013.

THURSDAY, Nov. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Cats with diabetes, dogs with cancer, birds with high cholesterol or even rabbits who cannot turn around to clean themselves -- what do these animals all have in common?

They are either overweight or obese, and it's serious.

"We have a problem -- almost all of American pets are overweight or obese," explained veterinarian Dr. Ernie...

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Having high blood pressure during pregnancy may make your child more vulnerable to obesity, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined data from more than 88,000 mother-child pairs in China. The mothers' blood pressure was checked in each trimester of pregnancy. The children were then weighed when they were between the ages of 4 and 7.

MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- No one likes looking at their weight on a scale every day, but that may be just the trick that college students need to ward off the dreaded "Freshman 15," a new study suggests.

Researchers at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania found that female freshman students lost more weight when they weighed themselves at least once a...

FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Something else to fret over as you lie awake at night: Poor sleep may increase the risk of being overweight and obese, a new study contends.

"Because we found that adults who reported sleeping less than their peers were more likely to be overweight or obese, our findings highlight the importance of getting enough sleep," said the study's senior...

TUESDAY, Aug. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Women who gain weight after having a baby may be more likely to develop diabetes during their next pregnancy, a new study suggests.

Women's weight before conception and how much they gain during pregnancy are known risk factors for gestational diabetes, the study authors explained. Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar diagnosed d...

Wellness Library Results - 13

Putting on extra weight isn't usually a winning strategy for good health. But now that you're pregnant, you need to keep the needle on your scale moving in the right direction. No matter what type of body you have now, it needs to get bigger.
How much weight should I gain?
According to the March of Dimes, a woman who started pregnancy at a normal weight should expect to gain about 25 to 35 pound...

Few of us need to be given more reasons to drop those extra pounds. We could do it for our hearts or our chins, for lower medical bills or freer spirits.
But did you know you should also do it for your joints?
The fact is, being overweight increases your risk of degenerative arthritis in the weight-bearing joints, especially the knees. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Office, your odds of...

Fat can show up in all sorts of places. It can strain the seat of a pair of jeans, hang over a belt, or make a wedding ring nearly impossible to remove. In these thin-conscious times, many people worry about every extra ripple and bulge, no matter where it shows up. Doctors, however, see things differently. When it comes to your health, there's one place where fat is especially dangerous.
Fat aro...

For years, exercise scientists exhorted Americans to work up a sweat. Healthy exercise, the thinking went, had to be strenuous and prolonged. Then, study by study, evidence showed that moderate exercise -- nothing harder than a brisk walk through the neighborhood every day -- delivers most of the benefits of more exercise, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease and certain c...

It's not just a stereotype, it's a fact: Most overweight people are badly out of shape. For whatever reason, they simply don't get enough exercise. But every once in awhile, a hefty person comes along who bucks the trend.
Take Steven Blair, PhD, for example. At 5 feet 4 inches tall and 180 pounds, he doesn't fit anyone's definition of svelte. But his girth is deceptive. Blair, the director of The...

Frustrating as it may seem, banishing extra fat isn't impossible. Study after study has shown that the clincher, after cutting back on calories, is exercise. But as you charge into the gym, don't forget to enlist one of your best fat-fighting allies: your own muscles.
If you want to get into shape, aerobic workouts can't be beat for their power to tune up the heart and lungs. Aerobics will also t...

Losing weight is easy. Just ask Oprah Winfrey, or the millions of other dieters who are on a weight-loss roller coaster. They manage to lose five, 20, or 50 pounds -- only to gain it all back. Doctors call this "weight cycling," but it's better known as yo-yo dieting.
Yo-yo dieting can be extremely frustrating. Studies suggest that repeated cycles of weight loss and weight gain may also be harmfu...

A few decades ago, suburbia didn't seem too far from utopia. Postwar families flocked to these new neighborhoods with their affordable houses, green lawns, and easy access to the city.
There wasn't much outcry about the lack of bike lanes or walking paths or stores within walking distance. Adults could drive wherever they wanted to go. In this new way of life, cars ruled.
A sprawling society
The ...

What's wrong with the typical American diet? This is what the experts have to say:
"Too many calories," says Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University.
"Too many calories," asserts Melanie Polk, registered dietitian and former director of nutrition education for the American Institute of Cancer Research.
Barbara Gollman, a registered dietitian who use...

No matter what time you set on your alarm clock, you keep pounding the snooze button until 8:30 every morning. Barreling out of bed in a panic, you hit the shower, race out the door, and clock into work just 10 minutes late with a coffee and giant muffin in hand.
You work through lunch while chowing down a burger and fries that you barely notice, but by 3 p.m. you're crashing, so you're off to the...

When one person puts on weight, there's often a simple explanation: Too much time in front of the computer. An unhealthy attraction to pizza. An inherited tendency to pack on pounds. But what's to blame when an entire country starts to bulge around the middle? One thing is certain: You can forget about simple answers.
The word "epidemic" is often overused, but there's no better way to describe th...

Have you bought popcorn at a movie theater lately? It comes in a variety of sizes: Small (which means large), medium (super humongous), and large (bathtub). If all that butter and salt makes you thirsty, you can order a 64-ounce soda -- that's nearly a six-pack of soft drinks in one convenient container. Enjoy! (And try to get an aisle seat.)
These days, you don't have to go to the theater to sam...

The next time you buy a large popcorn at the movies, consider saving the tub. After you wipe it clean, the neighborhood kids can use it as a fort.
From family restaurants to theaters to the frozen food aisle, portion sizes are expanding at an alarming rate. Not coincidentally, so is the typical American waistline. For all of the current talk about fats and carbohydrates, portion sizes may be the ...